The UK is already facing a substantial shortage of engineering talent. But a recent report by The Institution of Engineering and Technology showed that 68% of employers are concerned that our education system is struggling to keep up. A further 40% believe that recruitment will be hit hard over the next few years due to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Given these recent statistics, and the urgent problems facing the modern world, the need for industry-wide change has never been more apparent.
To help inspire the shift that is needed, Neutronic Technologies has produced its own report, entitled ‘Inspiring a Generation: How can we get more kids into engineering?’, to thoroughly examine what can be done to get more children interested in STEM.
The report takes an in-depth look at the condition of the engineering industry. It explores what is holding us back, and calls on expert opinion to discover exactly what we can do to overcome these issues.
“The shortage of graduates seeking out careers in engineering is a huge concern for everyone in the industry, and the issues between the UK and Europe are likely to only exacerbate the problem,” said Neil Gallant, managing director of Neutronic Technologies. “Global demand for talented engineers is growing. If we are to tackle the problems we face, such as global warming and the need to use less energy, we need to increase the supply to meet the demand. But to do that we must show children that exciting careers can be found here, and that’s why we need national campaigns like Tomorrow’s Engineers Week.”
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week - now in its fourth year - takes place from 7th - 11th November, and is a national campaign dedicated to showcasing the incredible jobs that real-life engineers do, and changing people’s perception of the industry. The campaign aims to inspire young people, particularly girls, to consider engineering careers they may not have known existed.
“Engineers help to save lives, make our days easier, and create amazing innovations that astound us and keep us entertained,” explained Paul Jackson, chief executive of EngineeringUK. “1.82m people with engineering skills are needed this decade, meaning we need to boost the number of apprentices and graduates entering the industry. To achieve this the community must work together to inspire more young people and encourage them to think of engineering as an exciting career option.”